Darren Elkins (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is dropping a weight class and is expected to make his featherweight debut against Michihiro Omigawa (12-9-1 MMA, 0-3 UFC) at UFC 131.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the planned bout with sources close to the event, who said verbal agreements are in place but bout agreements not signed.

Although not officially announced, UFC 131 is expected to take place June 11 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view, though it’s unknown if Elkins vs. Omigawa will make the televised lineup.

Elkins, who walks around at about 160 pounds, recently snapped a three-fight win streak and suffered his first UFC loss with a submission defeat to Charles Oliveira at UFC on Versus 2. The Indiana native, who defeated Duane Ludwig (due to an injury) in his promotional debut at UFC on Versus 1, had been slated to fight Edson Barboza at UFC 123. But Elkins was forced off the November card due to a knee injury.

Omigawa, meanwhile, looks to rebound from a UFC 126 decision loss to Chad Mendes. The February defeat came in a return to the UFC, where he went 0-2 back in 2008. But Omigawa posted a five-fight win streak (and an 8-1 record in nine fights) to earn his way back to the promotion. The Japanese fighter’s lone loss during the resurgence came to Masanori Kanehara in the finale of World Victory Road’s 2009 Sengoku featherweight grand prix.

Both 145-pounders could be fighting for their futures in the UFC at UFC 131.

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